“Oppenheimer” dominated at the 81st Golden Globe Awards on Sunday, just as it had a significant impact at the summer box office. The extensive exploration of J. Robert Oppenheimer and the development of the atomic bomb secured five victories, the highest number for any film, including the accolade for the best motion picture drama. “Poor Things,” a feminist reinterpretation of the Frankenstein story, received the title of best motion picture, musical, or comedy, marking one of two triumphs for the post-modern film.
In the realm of television, “Succession,” a sharp portrayal of a Murdoch-like magnate and his dysfunctional family, claimed four top honours, including the best drama series. The series concluded its four-season run in May. “The Bear,” depicting the challenges of a Chicago restaurant striving to stay open, garnered three awards, including Best Comedy Series, and Best Leading Actor and Actress in a Musical or Comedy, awarded to Jeremy Allen White and Ayo Edebiri.
“Beef,” a dramedy exploring the repercussions of a road rage incident, secured three awards, earning the title of best-limited series and acting prizes for Ali Wong and Steven Yeun. Lee Sung Jin, the series creator, expressed gratitude to the real-life driver who inspired the show, stating, “Sir, I hope you honk and yell and inspire others for years to come.”
Christopher Nolan, the director of “Oppenheimer,” a $100 million drama about physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer, won the award for Best Director at the 81st Golden Globe Awards. Cillian Murphy, portraying the brooding scientist in the film, was named best actor in a drama, and the movie received recognition for its atmospheric score. Lily Gladstone received the Best Female Actor in a Drama for her role in “Killers of the Flower Moon,” highlighting a historic moment for the indigenous community. Emma Stone was honoured as the best female actor in a comedy for her role in “Poor Things.” At the same time, Paul Giamatti received the Best Actor in a Comedy for his portrayal in “The Holdovers,” dedicating his award to teachers.
“Succession” dominated the television category, with Kieran Culkin and Sarah Snook winning best male and female actors in a TV drama. Matthew Macfadyen earned a Best Supporting Male Actor prize for his work on the show. The awards ceremony marked a significant moment in Hollywood’s history, following a chaotic and divisive year due to strikes and disputes over industry practices.
The Golden Globes, traditionally known for its camaraderie, took place on CBS, capping a tumultuous period for the awards show. The event changed, including a shift in the broadcasting network, the introduction of new categories, and the addressing of diversity concerns within the voting body. Despite past scandals, the Golden Globes reemerged as a for-profit awards show owned by Dick Clark Productions. The ceremony also introduced two new categories, acknowledging the success of “Barbie” as the best blockbuster and awarding Ricky Gervais for the stand-up comedy special.
Comedian Jo Koy hosted the show, incorporating humour into his opening monologue with jokes about Robert De Niro, Barry Keoghan’s performance in “Saltburn,” and the length of “Oppenheimer.” The new year’s resolution humorously referenced the film’s runtime and received a muted response from the celebrity-heavy crowd, acknowledged by the host.
The Golden Globes have a history of unpredictability in foreshadowing success at the Oscars. In the previous year, the top prizes were awarded to “The Fabelmans” and “The Banshees of Inisherin,” yet it was “Everything Everywhere All at Once” that ultimately secured the Academy Award for Best Picture. However, films like “Nomadland” and “Green Book” have aligned with both Golden Globes and Oscars success. A well-crafted acceptance speech can contribute to building momentum for contenders, as demonstrated by Robert Downey Jr. from “Oppenheimer” and Da’Vine Joy Randolph from “The Holdovers,” who, with characteristic humour and heartfelt emotion, respectively, enhanced their chances.
The evening’s award distribution also brought unexpected outcomes, such as “Anatomy of a Fall” winning the best screenplay category over strong contenders like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer.” Additionally, Elizabeth Debicki from “The Crown” surpassed Meryl Streep from “Only Murders in the Building” to receive the best supporting actress in a TV show.
The winners of the Golden Globes 2024
Best Motion Picture, Drama
“Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures) (WINNER)
“Killers of the Flower Moon” (Apple Original Films/Paramount Pictures)
“Maestro” (Netflix)
“Past Lives” (A24)
“The Zone of Interest” (A24)
“Anatomy of a Fall” (Neon)
Best Picture, Musical or Comedy
“Barbie” (Warner Bros.)
“Poor Things” (Searchlight Pictures) (WINNER)
“American Fiction” (MGM)
“The Holdovers” (Focus Features)
“May December” (Netflix)
“Air” (Amazon MGM Studios)
Best Director, Motion Picture
Bradley Cooper — “Maestro”
Greta Gerwig — “Barbie”
Yorgos Lanthimos — “Poor Things”
Christopher Nolan — “Oppenheimer” (WINNER)
Martin Scorsese — “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Celine Song — “Past Lives”
Best Screenplay, Motion Picture
“Barbie” — Greta Gerwig, Noah Baumbach
“Poor Things” — Tony McNamara
“Oppenheimer” — Christopher Nolan
“Killers of the Flower Moon” — Eric Roth, Martin Scorsese
“Past Lives” — Celine Song
“Anatomy of a Fall” — Justine Triet, Arthur Harari (WINNER)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama
Bradley Cooper — “Maestro”
Cillian Murphy — “Oppenheimer” (WINNER)
Leonardo DiCaprio — “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Colman Domingo — “Rustin”
Andrew Scott — “All of Us Strangers”
Barry Keoghan — “Saltburn”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
Lily Gladstone — “Killers of the Flower Moon” (WINNER)
Carey Mulligan – “Maestro”
Sandra Hüller – “Anatomy of a Fall”
Annette Bening — “Nyad”
Greta Lee — “Past Lives”
Cailee Spaeny — “Priscilla”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Fantasia Barrino – “The Color Purple”
Jennifer Lawrence – “No Hard Feelings”
Natalie Portman – “May December”
Alma Pöysti – “Fallen Leaves”
Margot Robbie – “Barbie”
Emma Stone – “Poor Things” (WINNER)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
Nicolas Cage — “Dream Scenario”
Timothée Chalamet — “Wonka”
Matt Damon — “Air”
Paul Giamatti — “The Holdovers” (WINNER)
Joaquin Phoenix — “Beau Is Afraid”
Jeffrey Wright — “American Fiction”
Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Willem Dafoe — “Poor Things”
Robert De Niro — “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Robert Downey Jr. — “Oppenheimer” (WINNER)
Ryan Gosling — “Barbie”
Charles Melton — “May December”
Mark Ruffalo — “Poor Things”
Best Supporting Actress, Motion Picture
Emily Blunt — “Oppenheimer”
Danielle Brooks — “The Color Purple”
Jodie Foster — “Nyad”
Julianne Moore — “May December”
Rosamund Pike — “Saltburn”
Da’Vine Joy Randolph — “The Holdovers” (WINNER)
Best Television Series, Drama
“1923” (Paramount+)
“The Crown” (Netflix)
“The Diplomat” (Netflix)
“The Last of Us” (HBO)
“The Morning Show” (Apple TV+)
“Succession” (HBO) (WINNER)
Best Television Series, Musical or Comedy
“The Bear” (FX) (WINNER)
“Ted Lasso” (Apple TV+)
“Abbott Elementary” (ABC)
“Jury Duty” (Amazon Freevee)
“Only Murders in the Building” (Hulu)
“Barry” (HBO)
Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series, Drama
Pedro Pascal — “The Last of Us”
Kieran Culkin — “Succession” (WINNER)
Jeremy Strong — “Succession”
Brian Cox — “Succession”
Gary Oldman — “Slow Horses”
Dominic West — “The Crown”
Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series, Drama
Helen Mirren — “1923”
Bella Ramsey — “The Last of Us”
Keri Russell — “The Diplomat”
Sarah Snook — “Succession” (WINNER)
Imelda Staunton — “The Crown”
Emma Stone — “The Curse”
Best Actress in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy
Ayo Edebiri — “The Bear” (WINNER)
Natasha Lyonne — “Poker Face”
Quinta Brunson — “Abbott Elementary”
Rachel Brosnahan — “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”
Selena Gomez — “Only Murders in the Building”
Elle Fanning – “The Great”
Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy
Bill Hader — “Barry”
Steve Martin — “Only Murders in the Building”
Martin Short — “Only Murders in the Building”
Jason Segel — “Shrinking”
Jason Sudeikis — “Ted Lasso”
Jeremy Allen White — “The Bear” (WINNER)
Best Supporting Actor, Television
Billy Crudup — “The Morning Show”
Matthew Macfadyen — “Succession” (WINNER)
James Marsden — “Jury Duty”
Ebon Moss-Bachrach — “The Bear”
Alan Ruck — “Succession”
Alexander Skarsgård — “Succession”
Best Supporting Actress, Television
Elizabeth Debicki — “The Crown” (WINNER)
Abby Elliott — “The Bear”
Christina Ricci — “Yellowjackets”
J. Smith-Cameron — “Succession”
Meryl Streep — “Only Murders in the Building”
Hannah Waddingham — “Ted Lasso”
Best Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
“Beef” (WINNER)
“Lessons in Chemistry”
“Daisy Jones & the Six”
“All the Light We Cannot See”
“Fellow Travelers”
“Fargo”
Best Performance by an Actor, Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television
Matt Bomer — “Fellow Travelers”
Sam Claflin — “Daisy Jones & the Six”
Jon Hamm — “Fargo”
Woody Harrelson — “White House Plumbers”
David Oyelowo — “Lawmen: Bass Reeves”
Steven Yeun — “Beef” (WINNER)
Best Performance by an Actress, Limited Series, Anthology Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television
Riley Keough — “Daisy Jones & the Six”
Brie Larson — “Lessons in Chemistry”
Elizabeth Olsen — “Love and Death”
Juno Temple — “Fargo”
Rachel Weisz — “Dead Ringers”
Ali Wong — “Beef” (WINNER)
Best Original Score, Motion Picture
Ludwig Göransson — “Oppenheimer” (WINNER)
Jerskin Fendrix — “Poor Things”
Robbie Robertson — “Killers of the Flower Moon”
Mica Levi — “The Zone of Interest”
Daniel Pemberton — “Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse”
Joe Hisaishi — “The Boy and the Heron”
Best Picture, Non-English Language
“Anatomy of a Fall” (Neon) — France (WINNER)
“Fallen Leaves” (Mubi) — Finland
“Io Capitano” (01 Distribution) — Italy
“Past Lives” (A24) — United States
“Society of the Snow” (Netflix) — Spain
“The Zone of Interest” (A24) — United Kingdom
Best Original Song, Motion Picture
“Barbie” — “What Was I Made For?” by Billie Eilish and Finneas (WINNER)
“Barbie” — “Dance the Night” by Caroline Ailin, Dua Lipa, Mark Ronson and Andrew Wyatt
“She Came to Me” — “Addicted to Romance” by Bruce Springsteen and Patti Scialfa
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” — “Peaches” by Jack Black, Aaron Horvath, Michael Jelenic, Eric Osmond, and John Spiker
“Barbie” — “I’m Just Ken” by Mark Ronson, Andrew Wyatt
“Rustin” — “Road to Freedom” by Lenny Kravitz
Best Motion Picture, Animated
“The Boy and the Heron” (GKids) (WINNER)
“Elemental” (Disney)
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (Sony Pictures)
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (Universal Pictures)
“Suzume” (Toho Co.)
“Wish” (Disney)
Best Performance in Stand-Up Comedy or Television
Ricky Gervais — “Ricky Gervais: Armageddon” (WINNER)
Trevor Noah — “Trevor Noah: Where Was I”
Chris Rock — “Chris Rock: Selective Outrage”
Amy Schumer — “Amy Schumer: Emergency Contact”
Sarah Silverman — “Sarah Silverman: Someone You Love”
Wanda Sykes — “Wanda Sykes: I’m an Entertainer”
Cinematic and Box Office Achievement
“Barbie” (Warner Bros.) (WINNER)
“Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3” (Disney)
“John Wick: Chapter 4” (Lionsgate Films)
“Mission: Impossible — Dead Reckoning Part One” (Paramount Pictures)
“Oppenheimer” (Universal Pictures)
“Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse” (Sony Pictures)
“The Super Mario Bros. Movie” (Universal Pictures)
“Taylor Swift: The Eras Tour” (AMC Theatres)
